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The CIO Council of Hawaii proudly celebrated our Year 1 graduation of our inaugural cohort for our Leadership Academy on March 11th. Pictured (left to right): Greg Hester (President of CIO Council of Hawaii), graduate Katherine Jumalon (State of Hawaii DHS), graduate Jennifer Edwards (Bowers + Kubota Consulting), Kaelyn Hirokawa (eWorld Enterprise Solutions), Hali’a Hester (Ulu Lahui Foundation), volunteer instructor Colbert Seto (retired CIO) and volunteer instructor Dean Tomita (Kamehameha Schools).

Our Leadership Academy comprises a two year curriculum that specializes in IT leadership. To join our next cohort starting on April 7th, visit https://ciocouncilofhawaii.org/leadershipacademy/ for more information.

With sponsorship support from Technocrats Domain Inc, the evening at Upstairs At Pier 38 brought together a mix of long-standing members and new prospects. The conversations reflected exactly what Pilina is all about: candid peer exchange, practical insight, and relationship-driven collaboration.

As 2025 closes and the Pilina Dinner program approaches its second anniversary, momentum is clearly building. New faces, stronger engagement, and increasing interest in the CIO Council of Hawaii’s mission make us optimistic for an even more impactful 2026. Looking forward to expanding the community, deepening partnerships, and continuing to elevate Hawaii’s senior IT leadership in the year ahead!

The CIO Council of Hawaii was proud to sponsor the 2025 Tech Career Pathways Summit, a dynamic gathering that brought together students, educators, and industry leaders to explore the many opportunities within Hawaii’s growing technology and innovation sectors. The event featured insightful panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities that connected aspiring professionals with experienced mentors and organizations shaping the future of Hawaii’s digital economy.

We extend a heartfelt mahalo to all of the event collaborators, speakers, and participants who made this summit a success, including our partners from education, business, and government who share our mission of fostering local talent and strengthening Hawaii’s technology ecosystem. Events like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in building sustainable tech career pathways for our community.

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Grateful to everyone who joined the September Pilina Dinner at Hy’s Steak House in Waikiki…..12 IT leaders trading stories of real-world wins, lessons learned, and a few good laughs. The format was familiar, but the energy was new: candid stories about resilience, practical planning, and commitments to show up for each other and support our local community of IT leaders.

A very special mahalo to our sponsors, Pellera Technologies and Arctic Wolf, for fueling the conversation. Cheers to more face time, fewer buzzwords, and stronger ties across Hawaii’s tech and cybersecurity circles!

Members, watch your Inbox for registration information for future Pilina Dinners.

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The CIO Council of Hawaii was proud to co-host an inspiring Women in Information Technology Leadership Roundtable & Mixer with our partners at TEKsystems. The event brought together incredible leaders and rising professionals from across Hawaii’s tech community to share experiences, mentorship, and practical insights on advancing women in IT. The conversations were authentic, the networking was vibrant, and the energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive technology community.

Mahalo to all who joined us! Your engagement continues to shape the future of IT leadership in Hawaii!

The CIO Council of Hawaii recently announced at our 2025 Annual Meeting the launch of the new Ka Liko Fund to help students preparing for a career in technology perform activities that go beyond obtaining a good education and doing well in school.  These can include obtaining work-based learning experiences, networking with professionals in the field, involvement in technology related organizations and conferences, personal passion projects in the field, and other extracurricular activities.  These “going beyond” activities and initiatives, while very important to the professional development of the student, often take money and resources to accomplish.  Hence the launch of the Ka Liko Fund.

Ka Liko, which means “to bud or put forth leaves”, is short for the mission phrase in Hawaiian, E ho’oulu I ka liko, which means to grow (or increase) the blossom.  Ho’oulu can also be translated to inspire.  In this case, it would also mean to “inspire the young buds” and, when we refer to flowers, especially the buds, we are talking about the youth or children.

Some examples of “going beyond” activities include:

• Attending a technology conference on the U.S. Continent
• Travel to a different geographic location to pursue an internship opportunity
• Fees for industry-recognized certifications and/or specialized training
• Purchasing of non-class books to learn more about an area of passion/interest
• Pursuing a technology passion project which could include the purchase of hardware and/or software
• Participating in boot camps, workshops, and/or specialized training

The CIO Council of Hawaii will base awards on proposals submitted by students, with awards expected to range from $2,000 to $5,000.  The Ka Liko Fund Committee will review proposals, recommend recipients, and award amounts to the CIO Council of Hawaii Board of Directors.  Two award periods per year are anticipated, Spring and Fall.  Donations to the Ka Liko Fund are 100% tax deductible as the CIO Council of Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.

Ka Liko Fund donation link: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cio-council-of-hawaii/2025-ka-liko-fund-giving

Last week’s Pilina Dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House was an incredible blend of community, culture, and innovation. We’re beyond grateful to Lucidchart for sponsoring the event and sharing their fascinating story, including how Polynesian influences have shaped their organization’s spirit and approach to teamwork.

Lucidchart’s platform is all about turning complex ideas into clear, visual workflows—a concept that resonated strongly with the Pilina principle of bringing people together and nurturing relationships. Their presentation explained how teams in any industry can simplify processes, brainstorm effectively, and map out solutions in real-time (even if they’re miles apart!).

Beyond the insightful product demo, it was inspiring to hear how Lucidchart embraces Polynesian cultural values—reminding us of the power of collaboration, respect, and community in both personal and professional settings.

Mahalo to everyone who attended, and to our gracious hosts at Ruth’s Chris Steak House for the fantastic ambiance. Here’s to building stronger connections, innovating collaboratively, and honoring the traditions that bring us together.

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Recently announced at our 2025 Annual Meeting, we are kicking off our first Leadership Academy Cohort beginning on April 9th, 2025. Send your up and coming leaders to this 1-year program where they will learn from experienced CIOs and community leaders on how to be the best leader in their area.

Learn more about the Leadership Academy HERE.

The class is priced at $4,000 per a year but this introductory cohort will be discounted to $2,995 per leader. Don’t miss out on introductory pricing and sign up today. Payment link: https://buy.stripe.com/4gw15VfCX6329eEdQS

Also, remember that a significant portion of your fee will go to the new Ka Liko Fund to support our local students in their projects, conferences, certifications and more!

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Last week, the CIO Council of Hawaii partnered with TEKsystems to hold an inspiring Women in IT panel discussion and pau hana event at Amuse Wine Bar in Honolulu. Our incredible panelists Taryn Salmon, Christine Lanning, Wendy Nakasone, and moderator Charissa Wong shared their experiences on navigating the unique challenges and obstacles faced by women IT leaders. The discussion was filled with powerful insights, encouragement, and strategies for success in a rapidly evolving industry.

Following the panel, we enjoyed a vibrant networking mixer, connecting with both familiar faces and new colleagues. The atmosphere was one of support, inclusion, and motivation—a true reflection of our tech community here in Hawaii.

Mahalo to everyone who joined us in making this event such a success! Let’s continue to uplift and inspire one another as we move forward in our IT journeys!

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This past Tuesday evening the CIO Council of Hawaii hosted another exclusive Pilina dinner at Morton’s The Steakhouse, Ala Moana Center, sponsored by DRFortress. The event provided attending CIO Council of Hawaii members with valuable insights into the comprehensive services and robust infrastructure offered by DRFortress. Attendees had the opportunity to network and learn about the latest advancements in data center solutions and how they can leverage these services to enhance their organizations’ IT capabilities. We extend our sincere gratitude to DRFortress for their sponsorship and to all participants for making the evening a resounding success!